The Siberian Husky is a medium-size,
dense-coat working dog breed that originated in eastern Siberia. The
breed belongs to the Spitz genetic family. It is recognizable by its
thickly furred double coat, sickle tail, erect triangular ears, and
distinctive markings

Huskies are an active, energetic, and resilient breed whose ancestors
came from the extremely cold and harsh environment of the Siberian
Arctic. Siberian Huskies were bred by the Chukchi of Northeastern Asia.
The dogs were imported into Alaska during the Nome Gold Rush and later
spread into the United States and Canada. They were initially sent to
Alaska and Canada as sled dogs but rapidly acquired the status of family
pets and show dogs. The Siberian Husky, Samoyed, and Alaskan Malamute
are all breeds directly descended from the original “sled dog.”

Recent DNA analysis confirms that this
is one of the oldest breeds of dog. The name “Husky” does not mean that
these dogs are burly, thick, fat, or overweight. “Husky” originated as a
mutation of the term “Eskie,” a derogatory name used by the Europeans
to describe the Inuit people whom they met when they first made
expeditions into the Arctic. The word “Siberian” in this breed’s name is
derived from Siberia itself, because it is thought that Eskimo or sled
dogs were used to cross the land bridge of the Bering Strait on the way
into, or out of, Alaska Breeds descending from the Eskimo dog were once
found throughout the Northern Hemisphere from Siberia to Canada, Alaska,
Greenland, Labrador, and Baffin Island With the help of Siberian
Huskies, entire tribes of peoples were able not only to survive, but to
push forth into terra incognita. Admiral Robert Peary of the United
States Navy was aided by this breed during his expeditions in search of
the North Pole. The Siberian Husky’s role in this feat cannot be
overestimated.

Siberian Huskies share many outward
similarities with the Alaskan Malamute as well as many other Spitz
breeds such as the Samoyed, which has a comparable history to the
Huskies. They come in a variety of colors and patterns, usually with
white paws and legs, facial markings, and tail tip. The most common
colors are black and white, copper-red and white, gray and white, and
pure white, though many individuals have blondish or piebald spotting.
Striking masks, spectacles, and other facial markings occur in wide
variety. They tend to have a wolf-like appearance. The pure white Husky
is treasured if it has ice-blue eyes, as it does not occur in most
litters. The facial appearance, depending on the category of the dog,
could be that of a wolf, which is most common in the show ring.

The Siberian Husky’s coat is thicker
than that of most breeds of dogs, comprising two layers: a dense
undercoat and a longer topcoat of short, straight guard hairs. It
protects the dogs effectively against harsh Arctic winters, but the coat
also reflects heat in the summer. It is able to withstand temperatures
as low as ?50 °C to ?60 °C. The undercoat is often absent during
shedding.Their thick coats require weekly grooming. Long guard hair is
not desirable and is considered a fault. The Siberian Husky has been
described as a behavioral representative of the domestic dog’s
forebearer, the wolf, exhibiting a wide range of its ancestors’
behavior.

They are known to howl rather than bark
Hyperactivity, displaying as an overactive hunting drive, a
characteristic of kenneled dogs, is often noticeable in dogs released
from their captive environment for exercise — a behavior welcome in
hunting dogs but not in the family pet. The frequency of kenneled
Siberian Huskies, especially for racing purposes, is rather high, as
attributed through the history of the breed in North America. They are
affectionate with people, but independent. A fifteen-minute daily
obedience training class will serve well for Siberian Huskies. Siberians
need consistent training and do well with a positive reinforcement
training program. They rank 45th in Stanley Coren’s The Intelligence of
Dogs, being of average working/obedience intelligence. They tend to run
because they were at first bred to be sled dogs. Owners are advised to
exercise caution when letting their Siberian Husky off the leash as the
dog is likely to be miles away before looking around and realizing their
owner is nowhere in sight. They also get bored easily, so playing with
toys or throwing the ball at least once a day is essential. Failure to
give them the attention or proper exercise they need can result in
unwanted behavior, such as excessive howling, marking, chewing on
furniture, or crying This dog is sometimes called “the clown of the
dogs” after its love to play like a puppy right through its life.